Questionnaire game



H. B. PALMER QUESTIONNAIRE GAME Feb. zo, 1940.v

rsued sept. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Patented Feb. zo, 1940 `iumiiai)l t stares PATENT orties I QUESTIONNAIRE GAME Harry B. Palmer, New York,N. Y.

Application September 29, 1938, Serial No.

4 claims.

. such object in view my invention consists in what oi the blower orair-compressor for operating the p air signal that may be used;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the whistle form,l air signal; and

Figure '7 is a like View of another signal device. Apparatus embodyingmy invention, as shown in the drawings, comprises a board upon the topor face of which are printed or marked groups of questions and answersthereto, and pneumatic means that includes holes in the board, one foreach question .and one for the answer thereto, the holes for thequestion and the answer thereto being connected by a concealed passageor conduit so that air, introduced under pressure into the answer hole,will flow to the question hole and actuate a signal or indicating deviceapplied to the question hole. There is but one signal device for all thequestion holes so that it may be applied to any one of the holes withthe result that if the player introduces air under pressure to aquestion hole with which the signal is not connected, then the signalwill not operate and the player will thereby know that he has not pickedthe correct answer. It is only when the signal operating airis caused toflow from the answer hole to the proper question hole that the signalwill be sounded. Thus, if `the question be Name the assassin of Lincolnand the signal device be applied to the hole contiguous pertaining tothat question, and air as by means of a hand air compressor be forced inthe hole contiguous to the name on the board John Wilkes is `playedsolitaire, the player` himself applies the signal to a selected questionor answer hole, or a teacher or another player may select the hole forthe signal device. It will be evident that correct responses will begratifying to the player and interest will be created by use of theattractive mechanical aids or means to produce the responses, especiallyin the case of boys. And

at the same time, useful information will be` imparted of historical,scientific and other facts and impressed on the memory.

Broadly describing the construction of the device as shown in thedrawings, the board` I!) shown is square and may be enclosed in amarginal rim or frame. Its top oriace is suitably marked off by crossinglines with numerous square elds or areas II within each of which isprinted a question or answer. At the center of each square I I is avertical holel I2 open to the top of the board and connected with apassage I3 that extends horizontally within the board. There is such apassage ISthat connects a selected pair of holes I2, that, respectively,are the holes for pertinent question and answer. The layout of onearrangement of the passages I3 is shown, in plan in Fig. 2, from whichit will be seen that a number thereof must be bent or curved as theycannot run in straight lines directly between holes. This makesinconvenient the use of tubes attached to the board to supply thepassage.

As a preferable construction, the board I has the passages I3 therein`formed by cutting slots therethrough (by die stamping or other suitablemethod) and is interposed between top and bottom covers Illa and Illb toclose and conceal the slots on opposite sides (Fig. 4). The board IIJand covers Illa and Ib have their contiguous faces tightly held togetherto permit air cornmunication between the various passages. The board I0and covers Illa. and Ib` maybe made from card-board and, therefore,tightly fastened together by an adhesive. Where it is found necessary ordesirable the ends of the slots, forming the passages I3, may beenlarged and circular, as at I4; and it will, of course, be understoodthat in this construction the squares vII and holes I2 are provided onthe top cover I0a.

The signal device may be, as shown in Figs. l, 4, and 6, a simpletubular whistle I5 of familiar construction, pointed or tapered at itsblowing end for easy and air-tight insertion into any one of the holesI2.

If desired, as shown in Fig. 7, the `signal device maybe a visual one,comprising a straight tube I6 with a tapering end for insertion in ahole and containing a light plunger II adapted,I under air pressure, tomove partially out of the tube at the top so as to be seen. A stop I8,such as a cross Wire, spaced above the top of the tube will preventcomplete emergence of the plunger I'I.

The air compressor may be a simple valveless hand bulb I9 with an outlettube 2G Whose outer end is bent at a right `angle to provide a nozzle 2|for convenient insertion in the air holes I2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.In such case, the retraction of air Withinthe bulb, when hand pressurethereon is releasedwil1 return the plunger I1 into the tube I6 of thesignal device shown in Fig. 7.

The questions and answers, and the lines to form the squares I I, may beprinted or otherwise provided on the upper face of the board as shown inFig. 1, and a number of other sheets 22 with different questions andanswers, may be provided to be applied or laid over the upper face ofthe board for interchange or substitution in order that interest in thisdevice may be continued and enlarged. These sheets 22, of course, willbe perforated to provide holes to register with the board holes I2. f

In Figures 2 and 3, there is shown a modied construction of the gameboard, which comprises the board proper ILl having the passages I3depressed or molded in one face or side thereof which is closed by acover lc in an air-tight manner. Of course, the depressions in passagesI 3 may be either on the top or bottom face of the boardy lli', but ishere shown on the bottom with the holes I2 extending through to its topface. Should the depressed passagesl be on the top face of the rboardIB', the holes I2 would be provided in the cover Ic.

Having thus described the invention in the manner in which it is to beperformed, it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited tor the form and construction as specifically described andshown, but may be varied and modied in numerous respects, which iallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a game apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the signaldevice comprises a tubular member having a tapered end to be iittedlyinserted in any of said openings, a signal member reciprocably `mountedin said tubular member and movable by said air pressure to rise abovethe outer end of said tubular member to give a visible signal, and meansfor limiting said last mentioned movement of the signal member wherebyit may be' returned to its'normal position when the air pressure isrelieved.

2. In a question and answer game apparatus, a board having a pluralityof non-connecting air conducting passages formed within the same andhaving their endvportions extending to different points in its area;openings in the boards surface, one opening at an end portion of eachslot and communicating therewith; a manually portable air operatedsignal device having an interchangeable connection with any of saidopenings Whereby the signal device is maintained in position, and amanually portable hand operated pneumatic pressure producing devicehaving an interchangeable connection with any one of said openings,Where upon proper selection of any pair of said openings air pressuremay be transmitted to the signal device from said pressure producingdevice.

3. In a question and answer game apparatus, a board comprising anintermediate ply or layer having a plurality of non-connecting slotstherethrough and having their end portions extending to different pointsin its area, cover plys or layers on opposite sides oi' said slotted plyto tightly close said slots to prevent air communication between saidslots, openings in at least one of said covers permitting communicatingwith respective slots at the end portions thereof from the surface ofsaid board, a manually portable air operated signal device to have aninterchangeable connection with any one of said openings, whereby thesignal device isfmaintained in position, and a manually portable handoperated pneumatic pressure producing device having an interchangeableconnection with any one of said openings, Where upon proper selection ofany pair of said openings air pressure may be transmitted to the signaldevice from said pressure producing device.

Ll. In a game apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the signaldevice comprises a tubular member having a tapered end to be ttedlyinserted in any of said openings, and an air operated whistle means onthe tubular member to give an audible signal. HARRY B. PALMER.

